Music increases frontal EEG coherence during verbal learning

http://www.brainmusic.org/EducationalActivitiesFolder/Peterson_musiclang2007.pdf

Music increases frontal EEG coherence during verbal learning

David A. Peterson a,b,c,∗, Michael H. Thaut b,c

a Department of Computer Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA

b Program in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Neuroscience, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA

c Center for Biomedical Research in Music, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA

Abstract

Anecdotal and some empirical evidence suggests that music can enhance learning and memory. However, the mechanisms by which music

modulates the neural activity associated with learning and memory remain largely unexplored. We evaluated coherent frontal oscillations in the

electroencephalogram (EEG) while subjects were engaged in a modified version of Rey’s Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT). Subjects heard

either a spoken version of the AVLT or the conventional AVLT word list sung. Learning-related changes in coherence (LRCC) were measured

by comparing the EEG during word encoding on correctly recalled trials to the immediately preceding trial on which the same word was not

recalled. There were no significant changes in coherence associated with conventional verbal learning. However, musical verbal learning was

associated with increased coherence within and between left and right frontal areas in theta, alpha, and gamma frequency bands. It is unlikely that

the different patterns of LRCC reflect general performance differences; the groups exhibited similar learning performance. The results suggest that

verbal learning with a musical template strengthens coherent oscillations in frontal cortical networks involved in verbal encoding.

© 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Verbal learning; Musical mnemonic; Electroencephalography; Plasticity; Synchrony; Oscillations; Theta rhythm; Alpha rhythm; Gamma rhythm